Another Season Starts

Last Tuesday Jeremy and I started our season with a pre-selection camp practice with the some of the national teams guys. Jeremy has been at the gym all year 3-5 times a week, 2 hour minimum a session and is shows. Jean took one look at him and jokingly said, "Here comes steroid man" but believe me it's all natural hard work and being that magic age of 18. The team all looked in very good shape too. Even Mark has filled out some. Kind of made this old guy feel a little bit inadequate. Oh well, I'm like a moose and as the season starts I'll start packing on muscle. Besides, I've been playing AB hockey all summer and when I stepped out on the ice for the first corporate shinny game I actually looked pretty good (I'm sure that'll change too when the rust comes off the other guys).

My buddy Lou the sledge builder was out too, trying out his new "Maple Leaf" sled and some material changes to his sticks. He's getting a little slower but he still knows all the tricks and is a very good puck handler.

Can't wait for the "Sled Head" movie to come out on Canadian Television, Oct 4th. They will play the 44 minute version (1 hr with commercials) but the grapevine has it that Gordie (Todd Nicholson's brother) will be arranging an extended length feature in Renfrew on October 6th!

As for the rest of you... tape your sticks, tighten the bolts on your sled, get some Neats Foot Oil on your gloves, don't forget to stretch and we'll see you on the ice!

Dot Drill

-X1 passes puck to Y1 and starts skating to position X2

-Y1 passes puck to X at X2 and X takes puck to X3 and shoots and then returns to their dot of origin

-As soon as Y1 passes the puck to X at X2 they pass a puck to the next X at the dot and proceed to Y2

-The next X passes the puck to Y at Y2 and takes the puck to Y3 and shoots and returns to their dot of origin

-The same thing happens on the other half of the ice except that B should give the first pass.

-This continues indefinitely.

Goalies end up guarding the net from alternate sides.
Skaters give and take passes and cover a lot of ice.

Corner Drills

Drill:

Great for practicing giving/getting a pass, turning, shooting and working as a team.

1) X skates beyond the blue line and turns toward the net (X1-X2).

2) Z get ready for their pass (Z1-Z2)

3) Y (Y1) passes the puck to X (X2) and immediately starts skating beyond the blue line and turns toward the net (Y2).

4) X shoots on the net (X3) and lines up on the opposite side they started (X4).

5) Z (Z2) passes the puck to Y (Y2) and immediately starts skating beyond the blue line and turns toward the net.

6) Y shoots on the net (Y3) and lines up on the opposite side they start (Y4).

Repeat indefinitely.

Hints:

-For safety try not to have players lined up directly behind the net.

-While it’s tempting watch your pretty pass, skate immediately after initiating the pass.